Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Duke's Wager
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"Use that silver fox magic you said protected my daughter—at full power."
He suddenly drew his sword, so I wondered what kind of bet this was going to be.
'So this is... competitive spirit?'
For example, he wanted to test just how strong the magic that protected Lena really was.
And whether he could break through it himself—that kind of competitive drive.
'This family does seem connected to the Guardian rune, for sure.'
The Guardian rune magic always manifested in the form of a silver fox.
It naturally linked to the Silvermont family symbol, of course.
And the ruins where the Guardian rune was discovered were in Silvermont territory.
'Maybe it's some lost family magic.'
Having reasoned it out almost perfectly without knowing the full details, Jeon faced Alexar, who was waiting for his response.
"Very well. I'll do it."
"I like that you don't back down."
Alexar grinned as if pleased, watching Jeon accept the bet.
'I've been curious myself.'
Not long ago.
After seeing Lena and Risar fight.
Jeon had been wondering just how far his current abilities went.
He could somewhat gauge the intuitive and predictable Compression rune magic, or his modern magic stuck at the 1st Circle level.
'But what if I unleash the Guardian rune magic at full power?'
He was curious about the extent of the Guardian rune magic—a primarily defensive technique—when pushed to its limits.
"Shall we move to a better spot, then?"
Once the bet was accepted.
They couldn't swing swords and cast spells in the office, so they headed to the training grounds in the mansion.
"Alright, let's begin."
The moment they arrived at the training grounds, Alexar took a stance with an excited expression.
But before that, there was something Jeon needed to confirm, so he held Alexar back for a moment.
"One second. I want to know the exact bet conditions first."
"Ah, right."
Alexar, who had been a bit worked up, nodded and regained his composure at Jeon's words.
'...He seems like the type who gets tunnel vision once he's hooked on something.'
Jeon could see why Lena didn't like her father much.
He could pass for straightforward and bold on the surface.
But with a personality that fixated on something and had to see it through to the end, it was hard to be a good dad.
"The conditions are simple. Block my single strike, and you win. And that strike will be..."
As he spoke, Alexar channeled aura into the sword he held.
Silver aura rose around the blade.
But the form of the aura was different from anything Jeon had seen before.
'What is that...?'
The knights from the exploration team, Risar, and even the knight Ted who fought Risar.
Their auras had all been misty vapors hovering around their swords.
But the aura now enveloping Alexar's sword looked like an extension of the blade itself.
A sharp, blade-shaped aura.
"Just block this one swing."
A sword with a distinct aura blade.
Alexar said it casually.
But a fully formed aura like that was not to be taken lightly.
'They said you need to reach Master level for that.'
Master.
The ultimate realm all swordsmen dreamed of.
Unlike the hazy rising aura, a fully formed one like that boasted overwhelming solidity and destructive power.
'Equivalent to reaching the 7th Circle for a mage.'
In any case.
Blocking a strike like that.
'Can I do it?'
Winning the bet offered huge benefits.
He didn't know exactly what lay in the ruins.
But with the Guardian rune discovered there, it wasn't just any site.
Successfully conquering it meant enormous gains.
Beyond that, Jeon wanted to win this bet for some reason.
At first, it was just to test his limits.
But seeing his opponent so fired up made Jeon's own competitive spirit ignite.
"Then I'll prepare."
With that, Jeon pulled out his manastone.
Over the past days, it was fully charged with mana.
Jeon drew on every drop without holding back.
He also summoned the mana from the silver-infused artifact on his wrist.
-Kyaaang!
Fueled with ample mana, Silver let out a cry and leaped from his pocket.
At the same time, it swelled from finger-sized to full-grown fox proportions in an instant.
'Now, pour in all my mana too.'
In addition to the two artifacts' mana.
Jeon unleashed all the mana absorbed through his arm over time toward Silver.
The silver light emanating from Silver's body intensified.
"This should be interesting."
Alexar adjusted his stance, watching Jeon and Silver.
-Hmmm. No wonder you're pumping so much mana into me.
Meanwhile, thanks to the full power.
Silver, who only mewled in its small form, suddenly spoke up.
'Silver?'
-Long time no chat. Oh, you can reply in your head. My voice only reaches you anyway.
'Got it.'
It could even control that.
Jeon learned another tidbit about Silver.
-In small form, I can only send rough info. Anyway... we need to block that sword, right?
'Can we?'
-Depends on you. Show me your all-out effort this time. I'll do my best too.
Silver lowered its body, glaring at Alexar.
Ready to react the instant an attack came.
"Here I go!"
Confirming preparations, Alexar charged and swung.
Silver shot forward in response.
The moment Silver met Alexar's sword.
Fwaaash!
Intense silver light erupted, blinding them momentarily.
"Ugh...!"
At the same time, Jeon felt a massive chunk of mana drain from the artifacts and his body.
When the silver light faded and vision returned.
"...Impressive beyond expectations."
Alexar's sword, clashed against Silver, was halted there.
Not just that.
The fully formed aura around his blade had vanished like it evaporated.
-Kyaaang...
And in front, Silver—shrunken back to finger-size—lay exhausted on the ground.
"Did we... block it?"
"Yes... Mr. Jeon's silver fox... seems to have blocked the Duke's strike..."
In the silent training grounds, Lena and Risar—who had watched the bet—spoke first.
As a 3rd Circle mage and an advanced knight.
They both struggled to accept the scene for different reasons.
'Can you really block a Master's strike... with magic?'
Alexar was a Sword Master knight.
A strike from such a knight with a fully formed aura.
From Lena's knowledge, few spells could block it head-on.
Even a grand mage of similar caliber would counter with offensive magic to cancel it.
But Jeon's silver fox had blocked it squarely.
'The fully formed aura vanished...?'
For knight Risar.
The block was shocking, but the aura's disappearance hit harder.
Not ordinary aura, but a Sword Master's fully formed one.
Blocking it was amazing enough.
But evaporating it entirely?
As the two stared dumbfounded.
"Congratulations. You win the bet."
"...Thank you. Beyond the bet, even just this one exchange let me glimpse another realm. It was incredibly helpful."
"Haha! Same here. It reminded me how far I still have to go."
The two who fought exchanged clean acknowledgment and mutual respect.
"As promised, everything from the ruins is yours to claim. Of course, I'll provide full support for the conquest too."
"Thank you."
"And you... mentioned wanting to learn our family's mana cultivation method?"
"Yes, that's right."
"I'll support that fully as well. Not just teaching the method—you'll have a senior family mage as your personal instructor while you're here."
"Pardon? That's too much..."
Jeon was slightly surprised at Alexar offering rewards beyond the bet.
He knew the man was generous.
But the bet's reward was already huge, so he wondered if he should accept more.
But Alexar's next words showed his concern was unfounded.
"In return, once the ruins are conquered, let's have another round like this."
"Ah... Yes. Understood. I'll train hard."
Beyond rewards, Alexar's competitive fire still burned.
No—having lost this time, it might be burning even hotter.
"You've had a long journey, so rest up. You'll meet the family mage tomorrow, so relax today."
Alexar sheathed his sword and left the training grounds.
-Kyaaang.
'Good job, Silver.'
Only after carefully tucking away the wobbly, exhausted Silver approaching him.
'Phew... can I finally rest?'
Jeon could finally catch his breath.
"...Beyond what I imagined."
Back in his office after leaving the training grounds.
Alexar dismissed everyone around and sank into thought.
'The moment it touched that silver fox, it felt like my sword became useless.'
Just one strike.
But a fully formed aura was blocked.
And that aura evaporated completely.
'The aura in my sword was fully spent.'
Of course, since it was just that instant's power.
He could reform it by channeling more.
But the aura evaporating in a moment was defeat for Alexar.
"Indeed, it matches the family legend."
The Silvermont legend of the 'Guardian Silver Fox' left by their ancestor.
He'd thought it mere myth, but witnessing it firsthand.
Even when Risar reported it.
It was just curiosity; he hadn't linked it to the legend.
Similar magics existed aplenty.
But a defense spell blocking a fully formed aura head-on and evaporating it?
Nothing but the legendary magic explained it.
'No idea how that kid knows the legend's magic... but who knows.'
Wanting to conquer the ruins.
Knowing the foxkin magic tied to Silvermont legend.
Jeon was full of mysteries, or mystique if viewed positively.
The moment he saw the magic, Alexar recalled a piece of family history.
'Maybe connected to the distant ancestors who left for the continent.'
When Silvermont split between sword and magic.
Sword-bearers stayed in Langley; magic-users went to the Empire.
Ancient history, with no records of their fate in Langley or Empire.
Perhaps their bloodline or legacy lingered, tied to the boy.
"The future looks promising."
Thus, Alexar saw Jeon not suspiciously, but as a mysterious boy stirring his fighting spirit.
"I should tell Gilead to pay him more—much more—attention."
Where did the boy's legendary magic end?
What if it clashed with his full power?
Alexar was already envisioning future bouts in his mind.